POCSO Court Awards Life Imprisonment to Two Convicts in West Bengal 2021 Post-Poll Violence Case
CBI Probe Leads to Conviction; Victim to Receive ₹5 Lakh Compensation, Sale Proceeds of Accused’s Ambulance Also Ordered to be Paid
Kolkata, July 30 (KNC): In a significant development in the investigation of the 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence cases, a POCSO Court in Jangipur, Murshidabad has sentenced two convicts to life imprisonment in a rape case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to a CBI press release, the Special POCSO Court on July 29 sentenced the two accused, Karim Sk. and Sayed Tarjen Hossain, to life imprisonment under Section 376DA IPC. The court also awarded rigorous imprisonment for other offences, with all sentences directed to run concurrently.
The case pertains to the violence that erupted in West Bengal following the declaration of the 2021 State Assembly election results. Taking serious note of the incidents, the Calcutta High Court, through its order dated August 19, 2021, directed that cases involving murder and crimes against women, particularly rape and attempted rape, be transferred to the CBI for investigation.
Following the High Court’s directions, the CBI registered the case on May 27, 2022, after taking over the investigation of FIR No. 118/2021, originally registered at Farakka Police Station, Murshidabad, on the complaint filed by the victim’s father. The accused were charged under Sections 376DA and 365 of the IPC, along with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
After completion of the investigation and trial, the Special Court convicted both accused on July 28, 2026, and pronounced the sentence on July 29, 2026.
In addition to the life imprisonment, the court directed that the sale proceeds of the ambulance owned by one of the accused be paid to the victim. The court also ordered that the victim receive ₹5 lakh as compensation through the District Legal Services Authority, Murshidabad.
The CBI stated that the conviction marks another significant outcome in the investigation of cases arising from the 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of serious crimes.(KNC)
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